STAFF shortages are forcing private homes for the elderly to hire untrained workers, leading to fears from residents they may be given the wrong medicine.
A former karaoke bar hostess, a decorator and a factory worker are among those recently hired by the Wing On Home for the Aged in Kowloon Tong.
Operators of homes said workers' duties ranged from handling medication and physiotherapy to feeding the elderly people and household work.
They admitted they were concerned about the problem, but said it was impossible to find qualified staff. They urged the Government to bring more health workers from China.
The homes were forced to start hiring untrained people after the number of Chinese health workers allowed into Hong Kong dropped to 313 this year, from 435 in 1992.
About 150 centres for the elderly launched a recruitment drive for local health workers two months ago.
But chairman of the Association for the Private Homes for the Elderly, Wong Yuk-yip, said the response was discouraging and there was still a shortage of about 1,500 workers.
